Vacuum-breaker.



H. E.- MORTON.

VACUUM BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. a, 1913.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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H. E. MORTON.

VACUUM BREAKEH.

APPLcAToN FILED MAR.6,19I3.

1 %04,301 Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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24 ,iir 4 nr s'ra* HARRY E. MORTON, OF BOSTON, MASSAGHUSETTS.

VACUUM-BREAKEB.

Application filed March G, 1913.

To all whom it may concem Be it known that I, HARRY E. MORTON, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Vacuum-Breakers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vaquum-breakers adapted to open a vacuum-space to the atmosphere and thereby destroy the vacuum between a jet-condenser and a steam-engine, in case the condensing-water rises abnormally in the condenser and starts to flow back through the eXhaust steam-pipe to the engine, which, if permitted to continue will wreck the engine.

The object of the invention is to produce a more eflicient and reliable device than has heretofore been constructed.

The invention involves the principle of utilizing the weight of the condensing-water which rises in the condenser, and starts to flow back through the exhaust steam-pipe, for Operating suitable means to open an air inlet-valve, thereby to open the vacuumspace to the atmosphere and to destroy the vacuum.

In the embodiment of my invention here shown for illustration, a receptacle in open communication with the vacuum-space is employed, which is arranged to receive the condensing-water which fiows back from the condenser and by the weight thereof is cause'd to descend, as for instance, the receptacle may be made with an open top and arranged in upright position in an upright portion of the eXhaust steam-pipe, or other part of the vacuum-space, adapting it to receive the condensing-water; and said receptacle is pivotally or otherwise supported, admitting of its being moved downwardly by the weight of the condensing-water. .An air inlet-valve is arranged to open the vacuum-space to the atmosphere, thereby to destroy the Vacuum, and said valve is arranged for operation by and upon a downward movement of the receptacle to open the vacuum-space to the atmosphere. Means are also preferably provided for insuring a positive opening movement of the air inletvalve when started by and upon a downward movement of the receptacle, and said means may and preferably is adapted to be operated manually, at a subsequent time, to restore the air inlet-valve to closed position. The receptacle is usually provided with a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

Serial No; 752,2ss.

small hole at the bottom which allows the condensng-water to slowly escape, so that, when it has moved downward and has caused the air inlet-valve to open the vacuum-space to the atmosphere, it will, after a short period of time, automatically resume its normal elevated positiomand, therefore, constitutes a self-restoring actuator for the air inlet-Valve.

Figure l is a conventional view illustrating a portion of an engine, jet-condenser, pump associated with said jet-eondenser, and a Vacuum-breaker embodying this invention, arranged in the eXhaust-steam pipe. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of the vacuum-breaker illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a section on line 5%4, Fig. 2. Figs. 5

and 6 are enlarged detail views of an inletvalve which may be employed. Fig. 7 is a front view of said valve, and, Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail of the valve.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention the engine 10 is here shown as associated with a jet-condenser 12, pump 13, eX- haust-steam pipe 14:, leading from the engine-cylinder to the jet-condenser, all of which may be of any usual or suitable construction.

The vacuum-breaker is here shown as connected with the eXhaust-steam pipe l l. As here shown, represents the shell or case of the same, which is made of suitable size and shape to be connected in and form a part or section of the eXhaust-steam pipe, but it may be otherwise arranged for connection therewith. Said shell or fitting 20, has a large opening at the side or elsewhere, which is closed by a fianged cap 22 having an interior recess, and said cap has an opening 24 to receive a suitable air inlet-valve, and, as here shown, said opening has a valve-seat 25 for said valve. The opening 24 is of sutlicient size to enable the vacuum to be quickly destroyed. As the opening is made quite large a large valve is required and as said valve is held on its seat firmly by the air. pressure, considerable power is required to lift it, hence a valve of peculiar Construction is preferably employed, one having a small auXiliary-valve in connection with it. The inlet-valve here shown consists of a valveplate 26, for engagement with the seat 25, and has on its under side several downwardly extended wings 27, and said plate has a center-bole through it for an auXiliaryvalve, which hole is forned with a ,seat for said auxlary valve,

The auxiliary valve consists of a stein 30,

extended through the center-hole in the lower end-portions, which is adapted to engage the valve-seat formed in the Valveplate. Said lower end-portion extends downward a short distance and terminates just above an actuatng-device. The auXiliary valve-stem` is movable longitudinally upon the initial movement of the actuatingdevice to open the way through the cente-r of' the valve-plate, and upon further movement of'said, device a collar screwed or otherwise arranged on said stemengages the lower ends of the wings 'of the'valveplate 26 and acts to; lift said plate from its seat, thereby opening the large way. The area of the valve-plate 20 is reduced, so that less power is required to lift said .Valveplate to open the way than would otherwise be the case, since the vacuum is partially broken by opening the auxiliary valve. My invention, however, is not limited to the employment of" an air inlet-valve of any particular Construction, or toan inlet-valve having an auXiliary-valve in connection with it, or to the employment of a nain-valve and auxiliaryvalve associated together as here shown or otherwise for successive operation.

he actuating-device for the inlet-valve is here shown as a lever or yoke 40, pivotally supported on any suitable bearingsfor easy movement, having a receptacle 41' at one end arranged in the shell :20, in the path of the co-ndensing-water, and having a counterweight 42, arranged'beneath the nlet-valve,

Said receptacle is normally held in elevated' position and against vibration by the counter-weight 42, engaging a limiting-stop 4:3, which is arranged on the shell. Said receptacle has a small hole through it, at its bottom, for the escape of the contents thereof, although as'the receptacle is quite large and the hole is quite small considerable time is required for the condensing-Water to escape in case the receptacle is filled, but in ordinary use the hole is of ample size to enable any water of condensation which may enter it to escape When the condensing-water fiows back through the eXhaust-steam pi'pe it entersthe receptacle andits weight added tothat oi the rec'eptacle causes the, receptacle to descenchthereby liftingthe counterweight against the low-er end of the steni 30, andthus acting to move said" stern longijtudinally and open thevalves. The counterweight may have upon' its upper side a spherical portion andthe lower end of the collar may have a spherically formed end to be engaged by' the spherical portion on the counter-weight( The vacuun-breaker is here shown as arranged in a vertical portion of; the eXhaust-steam pipe, as near the jet-condenser as possible, so that the receptacle will occupy a position to receive the condensing water which fiows back from the jet-condenser, and hence will operate to open ing' at the top as large as or larger tha-ntheopening at the top of the shell and also' to a admit c f-f the passage aroundsaid receptacle being of substantially the same area as the area of said pipe, 'so that aIn-pl'e: space is; afforded for the passage of eXhaust-steam around or by the receptacl'e. A fi'ange 21 15) formed around the interior of the open ngat' the top' of the shell 20, whcl'- extends downwardly for a short distance to form a. nozzlefor directing the condensing-water into the receptacle which isarranged directly beneath, it; This form of actuatingd'evice is positive in action, being; operat'ed entirely bythe weight of the `water.

It is designed that the inlet-valve when once opened shall remain open until closed by hand, and to provide for the accomplisl'- ment ofth-is result the stern 30,- is -slotted at- 50, to receive the end of the arm 51, of a bell-cranlt lever, which is pivoted' at 52, the

otherarm of said lever eXte-ndi'ng upWard and 'havinga weighted end, adapted to be engaged by hand. Said'weighted bell-crank r lever," however, is employed not: only as a means to hold' the inlet-valve open, and to provide :for ClOSlng itwhen operated manually, but also as' here shown, acts to; open or assist in opening the inlet-val've when once tripped.` In this particular, as the stemBO is moved' upward by the actuating-device, the bell-crank lever is moved by it until' the weighted' end-portion passes from' the left,

to the right of a perpend'icular, this bei g the initial' movement of said lever, when it will be noted that said' weighted end-portionfalls by gravity, this being the 'subsequent movement ofthel'ever and upon itssubscquent' movement its arm 51' which normally engages the lower end of the slot- 50 moves' upward quickly and en-gages the upper end of said' slot, therebyadding itsweight and momentun to assist in further lifting the sten and also in opening'the main Valve- P e Said bell-crank lever then acts t'o hold the valves in open position until its weighted arm is lifted by hand and the valves consequently closed. Other means, however, may be employed for accomplishing this result in lieu of the particular means here shown.

As the arm 53 of the bell-crank lever is arranged outside of the shell for engagement by hand, it is accessible at all times for operation by hand, so that the valves may be opened whenever desired for testing purposes. This provision enables the valves to be inspected and cleaned and repaired if necessary.

Herein the vacuum-breaker is represented as included directly in and forms a part of the exhaust pipe, and therefore is arranged between the jet-condenser and engine, but it is intended by this term to include any other location of the vacuum-breaker, whereby it is adapted to receive condensing-water which fiows back from the jet-condenser, said term being employed more particularly to correlate the vacuum-breaker with the elements with which it coperates.

I claim:

1. A vacuum-breaker consisting of an enlarged pipe-section adapted to be arranged in upright position in the main eXhaust steampipe between a jet-condenser and engine, a movable receptacle normally arranged in a predeterminecl elevated position therein, to permit free passage of the eXhaust steam by it and to receive condensing-water which fiows back from the jet-condenser, means associated with said receptacle for holding it in its elevated position and against vibration, which permits downward movement thereof when overcome by the weight of the condensing-water, a non-return air inlet valve arranged for operation by the downwardly moving receptacle, said receptacle having a leak-opening permitting escape of the condensing-water and the return of the receptacle to normal position independently of the valve, whereby the valve remains open.

2. A vacuum-breaker consisting of an enlarged pipe-section adapted to be arranged in upright position in the main eXhaust steam-pipe between a jet-condenser and engine, a movable receptacle normally arranged in a predetermined elevated position therein, to receive condensing-water which flows back from the jet-condenser through said pipe, said pipe-section being of much larger diameter than the receptacle to permit free passage of the eXhaust steam by it, means associated with said receptacle for holding it in its elevated position and against vibration, which permits downward movement thereof when overcome by the weight of the condensing-water, a non-return air inlet-valve arranged for operation by the downwardly moving receptacle, said receptacle having a leak-opening permitting escape of the condensing-water and the return of the receptacle to normal position independently of the valve, whereby the valve remains open, and hand-engaging means associated with said valve for returning it to closed position.

3. A vacuum-breaker consisting of an enlarged pipe-section adapted to be arranged in upright position in the exhaust steam pipe between a jet-condenser and engine, a movable receptacle normally arranged in a predetermined elevated position therein to provide a free passage for the eXhaust steam by it and t o receive condensing-water which fiows back from the jet-conden'ser through said pipe, means associated with said receptacle and arranged in said section for holding it in its elevated position and against vibraton, which permits downward movement thereof when overcome by the weight of the condensing-water, a non-return air inlet-valve independent of said receptacle and its holding-means, which is arranged for engagement with said holding-means for operation upon downward movement of the receptacle and for independent return of said receptacle to normal position, and handengaging means associated with said valv e for returning it to closed position independently of the receptacle.

4. A vacuum-breaker consisting of an enlarged pipe-section adapted to be arranged in upright position in the exhaust steam pipe between a jet-condenser and engine, having an opening in its side, and a removable recessed wall arranged over said opening, a pivoted counter-balanced receptacle arranged in said section to permit a free passage of the eXhaust steam by it and to receive condensing-water which flows back from the jet-condenser, the counterweight being eXtended into the recess of said wall, and an air inlet-valve arranged on said wall above said counterweight, to be engaged thereby upon a downward movement of the receptacle.

5. A vacuum-breaker consisting of an enlarged pipe-section adapted to be arranged in upright position in the exhaust steam pipe between a jet-condenser and engine, having an opening in its side and a removable recessed wall arranged over said opening, a pivoted counter-balanced receptacle arranged in said section to permit a free passage of the exhaust steam by it and to receive condensing-water which flows back from the jet-condenser, the counterweight being extended into a recess of said wall, the side opening being of suflicient area to admit of the passage through it of the receptacle, an air inlet-valve arranged on said wall above said counterweight, to be engaged thereby upon a downward movement of the receptacle.

6. A vacuum-b-eaker consistng o' an en- ]arged pipe-secton adapted to be arranged in an npright portion of the eXhaust steamppe between a jet-condenser and engine, a pvoted member arranged therein, a receptacle borne by one end of said member which affords a free passage for the eXhaust steam by it and receives the condensng- Water which fioWs back from the jet-condenser, a stop against which said receptacle is normally held, a counterweight associated With theother end of said member, for holding the receptacle in elevated position against said stop, and an air-inlet valve arranged to be engaged and lifted by said' In testimony Whereof, I have signed my A name to this specification, in the presence of two subscrbng witnesses.

HARRY E. MoRTo Vtnesses B. J. Noms, H. B. DAVIS.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressng the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C." 

